My Sister's Greek Macaroni

My Sister's Husband is half Greek so she gets to eat lots of delicious Greek food when she is with his family. Her Mother in Law is often showing her how to make dishes and one that she has perfected over the last few months is Macaroni de Forno ( macaroni in the oven). There are lots of different ways to make this dish, it's all dependant on your taste really but here she has shared her way based on her Mother in Law's recipe with us;

Ingredients

500g of Minced Pork 

Half a tube of Tomato Puree 

Flat Leaf Parsley- whole pack no stems

Cinnamon- 2 tbsp 

1 Onion finely chopped 

Vegetable Oil

10 Tbsp Self Raising Flour 

1 Pint of Full Fat Milk

 Whole Pack of Dried Macaroni Pasta Tubes- you get this from most Turkish/Greek shops 

Salt & Pepper 

Firstly fry the Onion in a tablespoon of Vegetable Oil until soft. Then add the Mincemeat into the pan and fry until brown. Meanwhile break the pasta tubes into 3 pieces so all roughly the same length and boil in salty boiling water for about 8-10 minutes until soft. Whilst the pasta is boiling add the Parsley, Cinnamon, and Tomato Puree to the pan of Mince Meat and mix well.  Season with Salt and Pepper. Be generous with the Salt.  

 Cover the Meat Mixture with a lid and reduce the heat. Once the pasta is ready drain well and place half of it into a fairly deep ovenproof dish and flatten out. Sprinkle a light dusting of Cinnamon over the Pasta then add the whole Mince Meat mixture into the tray and spread evenly over the Pasta.  Add the remaining half of the Pasta onto the Mince Meat and spread evenly so it's covering the Meat.

One Layer of Pasta

One Layer of Pasta, then Meat, then top with final layer of pasta
and sprinkle with Cinnamon

Bechamel Sauce

Pour half an inch deep of the Vegetable Oil to a medium sauce pan and keep on a medium heat- DO NOT BOIL just heat gently. Then add about 10 heaped tablespoons of Self Raising Flour and whisk into the vegetable oil until it becomes a paste. At this point pour in the Milk gradually whisking constantly until whole pint is poured in. DO NOT be afraid if the sauce becomes lumpy and curdles. Continue whisking until it becomes a sauce- slightly thicker than custard consistency.

If it seems too thin add a little more flour and keep whisking. Once this is ready pour the whole sauce all over the Pasta making sure it is all covered then place in the Oven on Gas Mark 5 until golden brown- usually about 20-30 minutes. 

Remove from Oven and let it cool completely before slicing into squares. DO NOT attempt to slice straightaway as it will crumble and fall apart.  

VOILA!! Macaroni De Forno

My Sister serves this with a nice fresh Greek Salad. It's delicious! One of my favourite dishes although not so kind to your thighs! Have you tried this dish? How do you make yours? x

My Recent Buys...

I've been really good lately and haven't splurged too much mainly because I am saving my money for my wedding. Here are my most recent purchases for the month...

Warehouse Top

I saw this online and had my eye on it for ages but it recently went down in ths sales from £35 to £20. I really like that its quite simple yet has some nice detail to the sleeves and shoulders. It's actually gone down to £15 now!! Check it out here. 

Reiss Dress 

This was an absolute bargain! I got it in the sale reduced from £159 to £47!! Looking at this on the hanger it's doesnt look like much but Danny convinced me to try it and I'm so glad I did! I love this dress! You can buy this here.

Revlon Gloss Stick

As you know I've tried the new Revlon Chubby Sticks and was really impressed with them so I thought I would try the gloss stick. I really liked the colour- it reminds me of sunset. It's an orangey-red colour which is again a fail safe for me. I will be mentioning this in my next tried and tested video so stay tuned!

So these are the few bits I've bought recently! What do you think? x

Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair

A good friend of mine works for Aveda and gave me this product quite a while ago now. I have very fine over processed hair. I've been colouring my hair since the age of 16 so it's also very damaged particularly because I use bleach in my hair. I've never really found the perfect hair product and apart from regular treatments this is the only other product I use.

Firstly, this is a daily leave in hair treatment. It contains quinoa protein which penetrates hair to instantly  repair damage by 26%. It protects from heat styling and the soy derived oil detangles hair to protect against breakage and further damage. So not only does this product protect the hair instantly it's also a preventative treatment.

Although this can be used everyday I tend to use this every time I wash and blow dry my hair and I have to say it does make a massive difference to how my hair feels and looks after use. You literally need a small pea-size amount.

I apply this to the ends of my hair (as these are the area's that tend to break the most) whilst my hair is still damp and then blow dry. It's not at all greasy and feels very light weight on my hair.  It really does leave a lovely silky look and feel to my hair afterwards! I've even noticed that my hair has started to grow since using this which means it's probably not breaking so much!

This product costs £19.50 but a little goes such a long way and it's lasted me for ages! I would definitely recommend buying this if you have frizzy, break-prone, coloured treated hair.

Have you tried this product? Check out the Aveda website here for more info.

My Fabulous Nail Art Kit...

There's a little shop near my work called Sublime that sells clothes, little gifts and jewellery. I picked this up the other day and thought it was a great find!! It's a Nail Art Set which consists of 2 pens, each pen has 3 seperate compartments; one is a brush for painting, one has sparkling diamontes and the other a nib for drawing your design. I gave this a whirl over the weekend and found it so easy to use. I've never been great at drawing but loved how the thin nib acts as a pen making it so simple to draw even the smallest of detail.

This Nail Art set cost £8.50 which I think was a real bargain for many hours of fun. Here are a few designs I created....

Ladybird

Gold Cross

Hearts & Diamonds

It's so easy to use!! What do you think? x

Meatballs & Spaghetti

I made this dish one evening when I didn't know what else to make, I was getting bored of the same old stuff and Danny came home with some meatballs so I went in the cupboard and threw something together. It actually tasted delicious and is now one of our favourite meals although I haven't had it in a while since my healthy eating plan.  It's the most simple meal but very flavoursome. I think I might cook this as a weekend treat!

Here's how to make this;

Ingredients

Beef Meatballs

Lloyd Grossman Chili and Tomato Sauce

Chopped Tomatoes

2 Large Spring Onions

2 Oxo Cubes

3 Bay Leaves

A glass of Red Wine

6 Garlic Cloves

Fresh Spaghetti or Linguine

Method

Firstly fry off the Meatballs until cooked right through. Meanwhile chop the Garlic and Spring Onions and fry in a separate pan until soft.

Then add the Tomato and Chili sauce, the chopped Tomatoes, the Red Wine, Bay Leaves and Oxo Cubes, stir and leave to simmer for about 15 mins.

Add the cooked Meatballs to the pan of sauce and leave to simmer for a further 10 minutes. Serve on a bed of Spinach Linguine. 

EASY PEASY!! x

Thalia Eyelash Nutrition Serum

An old school friend of mine's Wife has a Nail and Make Up Studio called Thalia and he is always posting about new products and courses they offer on Facebook and Twitter.  A recent product of theirs that caught my eye was the Thalia Eyelash Nutrition Serum. The product is said to improve the look and feel of your lashes by nourishing them.

We all want nice thick, long glossy lashes but unfortunately I have very fine short ones so was really interested in trying this out. Nick kindly sent me one to try and I have been using this now for about 3 weeks. Firstly, I love the packaging! Very simple but classy. The product itself looks like a mascara but the wand is more like a liquid eye liner. It's a clear gel which you apply to the base of your lashes daily. I've been using this every night after washing off my eye make up. It says on the instructions that you can use this twice a day if desired.

They recommend giving this 6 weeks before you see the results but I would say I am already noticing a change to my lashes. They appear fuller and slightly longer and they also seem more glossy than before!  I'm really enjoying using this serum, at first I was a little nervous as I do tend to have sensitive skin and hoped I wouldn't have a reaction to this but it's so gentle with no odour.  It actually feels like it's doing something good! You can also use this serum for your eyebrows so I think I might try that out too!

Thalia has built up a successful business teaching her trade all over the country and bringing her work to television shows, artists and music videos. Check out Thalia's website for more information on her products and services; http://www.thaliamakeup.com/

Have you tried any Thalia products? x

Glossy Box

Look what arrived in the post the other day.....I'm so excited about this! Basically for those who haven't heard of it Glossy Box is a great way of trying out all the latest beauty products. You subscribe to them and choose a payment plan- monthly/quarterly or yearly and each month they send you a box of treats to try and test.

I think it's so nicely arranged. You get five products each month to try out and there is a huge list of brands that they supply. Here's what I got in my first box....



Paul Mitchell Super Strong Daily Shampoo- Usually costs £11.50.

This shampoo strengthens, repairs and rebuilds hair damaged by chemical, environmental or thermal abuse. This shampoo is also said to prevent further damage.



Elemis Fresh Skin Glow Exfoliating Face Scrub- Usually costs £12.00
This scrub features deep pore cleansing action to gently lift away grime and help refine skin texture. This is suitable for all skin types.

Duck Island Body Lotion- Usually £26.50. This lotion has an exotic, zesty and fragrant combination of Mandarin and Bergamot that will stimulate your senses helping to create a more relaxed feeling.

JASON Lips Bee Healthier Lipbalm- Usually Cost- £1.99
This lipbalm is 70% organic. Ingredients include, Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and Green Tea extract. Helps to sooth, calm, heal and protect lips for drying, cracking and chapping.

Monu Aromatic Mask- Usually cost £24.95.
This warming facial mask is made from natural clay to deep cleanse and renew cell health. Beeswax and Coconut Oil helps to soften, nourish and hydrate the skin. This product helps to increase vitamin and mineral absorbtion.

Glossy Dreams Eye Mask

Overall I am happy with what I got and excited to try these new products out. The total cost for these products are far more than I paid so I think it's well worth it! I cant wait to see what I get in next months box. 

Have you subscribed to Glossy Box? x

Thought of the Day....#1

This morning on my usual commute to work, sat on the tube halfway between falling asleep and people watching all I saw around me were tired, exhausted, worn out faces. It got me thinking...are we all overworked or is it our social life that's wearing us out? I think as a nation we spend far more time with our work colleagues than our loved ones. Unfortunately with the cost of living this is the way it has to be if you want nice things and a good lifestyle.

I personally spend from the hours of 7.30am-7.15pm out of my home getting to and from work. That's almost 12 solid hours of my day taken up and I'm sure I'm not the only one. As I looked around me I couldnt help but feel sad for the older man standing next to me...grey hair, he must have been around 60 years old. He was holding onto the bars at the top to steady himself and laid his head against his arm and closed his eyes. Is this going to be me in 30 years? How do these working Mum's manage to do a full days work and then come home to care for  their children and husbands? It actually made me feel really sad.

But then I thought about those who are out of work, those who cannot get a job. Who sleep until their backs ache, who sit around the house in their dressing gowns all day because there's no reason to get dressed and I realized how lucky I really am. When I moan about the fact that some of my friends needn't go to work everyday I remember.....work is what made me who I am. Without it I wouldn't have the nice things I have today, I wouldn't have the wisdom and the knowledge I have developed over the years. Work keeps me sane! It stops me from over-thinking. And most importantly....I wouldn't have met the man I am marrying if I hadn't gone to work...:) x

Our Wedding Journal

As you all know I am getting married this year and Danny's Auntie very kindly bought me this amazing gift! It's called Our Wedding Journal and it is so pretty!! I love it! I was so touched by this thoughtful gift. Basically it is an organizer, filofax, diary all in one but it also has so much great information and tips for planning your wedding.

Its bright and colourful and has lots of lovely pictures in it with tabbed sections for each area- Planning, Colour Schemes, Cost, Guests, Budgeting. It's such a good present!!

It even has pages to draw seating plans! It literally covers every aspect of wedding planning!

 I really needed something like this as at the moment I have pieces of paper with notes everywhere so this will keep me so organized!! Thank you Sophie. I love it!! x

Gloss Hair Salon...

I don't often find the time to get pampered and tend to do alot of bits myself. I rarely get my hair styled for nights out and just tend to keep it down and straight most of time. As a treat I decided to book myself into Gloss in Buckhurst Hill for a big bouncy blow dry. I follow alot of the TOWIE girls on Twitter and they are constantly promoting this salon and taking photos of their amazing locks after a visit here.

I had my hair done by a girl called Amy who was really lovely! They gave me a glass of wine which was a nice touch and got straight to work washing my hair. I told her I wanted more body for my fine hair and slightly curly but not too much around the front as my hair is shorter there and I didn't want it looking even shorter! She blow dried my hair in sections starting with the underneath with a small round metal brush and then left the brush in my hair whilst moving onto the next section. At the top she literally blow dried my hair and then placed rollers in for extra volume which I would need to take out before going out.

TA-DA!!!

I was so pleased with the end result! I couldn't believe how much body my hair had, in fact I had to flatten it out a bit as it was too big. I will definitely be going back again..:) Check them out for yourself on Twitter- @salon_gloss. x

Jewish Penicillin

My Mother In Law makes the most delicious homemade Chicken Soup traditionally known as Jewish Penicillin. It is passed down by generations in the Jewish Tradition and is said to help with congestion, colds and sore throats although it doesn't actually contain any Pencillin but somehow it feels very comforting.  We generally have this on a Friday night when all the family come together for a nice 3 course dinner. I've been shown this recipe by my Mother In Law and have only made it once using Chicken Thighs and Legs but it doesn't taste quite the same without the vital ingredient- Fowl! So here is my mother In Law's famous Soup recipe which she has kindly let me share with all of you. Take it away Angela;

"You need boiling fowl (pour boiling water over to clean), 3 large peeled carrots, 1 onion and 2.5 pints of water.  I use the pressure cooker so I fill the water 2/3 up add the cleaned boiling fowl, thickly sliced carrots and 1 whole onion.  Bring to pressure on a high light and then when on pressure turn down to simmer for 25 minutes.  Then when pressure has gone, I add two dessert spoons of Telma Chicken Soup mix or stock and remove the chicken and the onion from the soup.  I keep the chicken but usually throw the cooked onion away.  I cook vermicelli in a separate saucepan and follow directions on packet which is bring to boil and then simmer for a few minutes.  I use about 6-8 pieces which I crush a little and cook this separately and then after rinsing the starch I then add to the soup and rest the lid on top.  Then taste and serve nice and hot.  Jewish penicillin!!"

She makes it sound so easy! This Soup traditionally comes with Kneidlach or Matzah Balls which are made from Chicken fat and taste delicious! They are similar to a dumpling but alot tastier. I will find out the recipe for these also and let you know.
Have you ever made this Soup? I'm sure there are lots of different ways to make it. I'd love to hear your recipes? x

Healthy Recipes...

As you know I am following a healthy eating diet and exercise regime. It really doesn't have to be boring to eat healthy. If you use the right ingredients you can make some delicious meals! My key ingredients in most meals I make are, Garlic, Coriander, and Chillies. These little ingredients can create amazing tasty meals! Here are some of my favourite quick and easy meals....

 Chilli & Honey Salmon with Stir fried Veg and Brown Rice.

Ingredients

Fresh Salmon Fillet

Squeezable Runny Honey

1 Red Chilli

1/4 pack of Tilda Brown Rice- Microwave Bag

1 Courgette

3 Baby Sweetcorn

Handful of Mangetout

Broccoli 

2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce

2 cloves of Garlic

Method

Finely chop the chilli, garlic and all the veg however you want. Place the Salmon on a baking tray or foil and spread some chillies over it evenly. Drizzle the honey all over the salmon. Place in the oven at 200 degrees centigrade for about 10-12 Min's. Heat a wok with a little olive oil, add all the vegetables and stir fry until soft- not too soft! 3 minutes before the vegetables are ready add the rice, garlic, chillies and soy sauce. Fry off for a further 3 minutes and serve with the Salmon.  

Hoisin Beef  & Mushroom Stir Fry

Ingredients

5 Tbsp Hoisin Sauce

1 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1 Tsp Chilli Sauce

1/4 Tsp Five Spice Powder

1 Tbsp Grated Ginger

1/2 Pack of Shiitake Mushrooms- thinly sliced

Mangetout- however much you want

2 Spring Onions- chopped

Handful of Coriander roughly chopped

Rice Noodles

Sirloin Steak- fat removed and thinly sliced

Method

In a bowl mix together the Hoisin Sauce, Soy Sauce, Chilli Sauce and Five Spice Powder and keep to one side. Heat the Steak in a Wok with a little olive oil until cooked to your liking. Remove the Steak and set to one side. Take the Ginger and Mushrooms and fry off in the same Wok adding a little more olive oil. Add the Mangetout to the Wok and stir fry together for a further 2 minutes. Return the Steak to the Wok, add the sauce mix and cook for another 2 minutes or so until warm. Heat the Rice Noodles in the microwave according to instructions and serve. Top with Spring Onions and Coriander. 

Green Thai Turkey Stir-Fry

Ingredients

1 Pack of fresh Diced Turkey
Baby Corn
Sugar Snap Peas
Spring Onions
Handful of Samphire or any other veg
1 Red Chilli
3 Cloves of Garlic
Worcester Sauce
Green Thai Stir Fry Sauce- I get mine from Waitrose

Method

Fry the Turkey in a pan with a little Olive Oil until cooked. Meanwhile chop all the vegetables however you want them and finely chop the Garlic. Add all the vegetables to the pan and stir together until they are tender. Add the Garlic and stir. Next add the Thai Stir Fry Sauce to the pan and stir together.  Lastly add a few dashes of Worcester Sauce and chillies according to taste.  Serve with Rice if desired.
EASY PEASY! 

Smoked Haddock with Chilli, Garlic, Spring Onions and Honey with Sweet Potato Garlic Mash and Broccoli Stems

Ingredients

Smoked Haddock
1 large Sweet Potato
Broccoli Stems
I Red Chilli- finely chopped
5 Garlic Cloves- finely chop 3 of these, keep 2 cloves whole!
2 Spring Onions- finely chopped
2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce
Squeezable Runny Honey

Method

Peel the Sweet Potato, chop into small pieces and boil in hot water with 2 cloves of peeled garlic until soft. Meanwhile place the haddock on a piece of foil, scatter with the spring onions, garlic and chillies and then pour the honey over the top evenly. Wrap in a parcel loosely and place in the oven for 10-15 Min's on 200 degrees centigrade. Heat a wok with a little olive oil and add the broccoli stems, stir fry until tender but not too soft, when the broccoli is almost ready add some chopped garlic and soy sauce and fry off for a further 3 Min's.  When the sweet potatoes are soft mash drain keeping the garlic in the pan and mash altogether. Add chillies according to taste.

So those are a few of my favourite recipes, they don't take long to cook either and are all packed with an abundance of fresh vegetables.
Please let me know if try any of these recipes. I'd love to here what you think of them? x